Get To Know Our Attorney Placement Professionals

Our Team

Small Group with Big Results

Chuck Trense, Esq. Founder & President, Trense Group

Chuck Trense, Esq. is the Founder and President of Trense & Associates, Inc., d/b/a Trense Group, a leading boutique legal search firm dedicated to placing exceptional attorneys with top-tier law firms and in-house legal departments across the United States.

Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Chuck earned his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 1987. Following graduation, he spent four years in corporate banking in Atlanta, developing a foundation in business and finance that would later inform his work in corporate law and legal recruiting.

In 1991, Chuck enrolled at the University of Alabama School of Law, where he distinguished himself academically and in leadership roles. He served as Chairman of the John A. Campbell Moot Court Board (1993–1994) and as Editor-in-Chief of the Law & Psychology Review (1993–1994).

After law school, Chuck returned to Atlanta to practice corporate law with a boutique firm. His practice focused on corporate transactional matters, including entity formation (LLCs, LLPs, and corporations), asset and stock purchase agreements, and shareholder buy-sell agreements.

In 1996, Chuck joined the Atlanta office of a national legal staffing company, gaining firsthand insight into the legal recruitment industry. Recognizing the opportunity to elevate standards of responsiveness and professionalism in attorney search and placement, he founded Trense & Associates, Inc. (Trense Group) in 1997. Since then, he has built a reputation for matching outstanding legal talent with the most selective firms and corporate legal departments in the country.

For nearly 30 years, Chuck has been listening to the needs of clients and candidates, making successful matches, and fostering long-term relationships across the legal industry. His approach is guided by a standard he calls “Uncompromising Professionalism”, ensuring every engagement is handled with integrity, discretion, and care.

Contact Chuck Trense

For an objective consultation, you may reach Chuck via:

All inquiries are handled with the strictest confidence.

Trense & Associates, Inc. d/b/a Trense Group
Atlanta, Georgia

Tracy Stouse, Managing Director
Trense Group Carolinas

Tracy Stouse, Esq. is the Managing Director of Trense Group Carolinas.

Tracy brings over 20 years of law firm experience to her role as the managing director for Trense Group Carolinas. After graduating from Tulane University Law School, Ms. Stouse began her career as a business law associate with the firm of Jones Walker in New Orleans, Louisiana.

She later relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina and joined the business law department of Kennedy, Covington, Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P. (now K&L Gates), where she focused on corporate finance and commercial lending. At both firms, Tracy was involved in both the lateral and entry-level recruiting processes.

After taking some time off to raise young children, Tracy reinvented her legal career and became an immigration attorney, starting in the immigration clinic of a local non-profit organization and ultimately joining Alan Gordon Immigration, a boutique immigration, and nationality law firm.

Through her own lateral career shifts in the legal profession over a 30-year period, Tracy adds a special level of understanding when it comes to the unique needs of her clients and candidates. Having experienced the lateral recruiting process—Tracy used the counsel of a legal search firm when joining Kennedy Covington as a mid-level corporate finance associate—she is particularly sensitive to the multiple and often unforeseen issues that can arise in the search process.

This allows her to add a personal perspective when advising her clients and candidates in these areas. Through her extensive network and market knowledge, Tracy provides accurate, relevant, and current information to both her candidates and clients.

Outside of the office, Tracy is a curious home cook who enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband, three daughters, and her cockapoo, Lulu. She also is an avid exercise enthusiast who loves running, yoga, hiking, and pickleball.

In the local community, Tracy currently serves as the vice chair of the Pastoral Council of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Charlotte Ballet.

Contact Tracy Stouse

For an objective consultation, you may reach Tracy via:

All inquiries are handled with the strictest confidence.

Trense Group Carolinas
Charlotte, North Carolina

Michael Foltz, Managing Director
Trense Group Northwest

Michael Foltz is the Managing Director of Trense Group Northwest and a former New York lawyer. He has 20+ years of experience in the legal and recruiting industries.

Michael's career began with an NYU School of Law degree and an attorney position in securities and corporate law at New York firm Hahn & Hessen. He transitioned thereafter into legal recruiting, becoming a top business developer and recruiter at national legal recruiting firm Special Counsel in New York and the Western US. During his 8+ years at Special Counsel, Michael successfully filled 200+ positions for experienced attorneys and paralegals.

After his time at Special Counsel, Michael broadened and diversified into other areas of recruiting and business development. He became a top performer for 5+ years at global recruiting firm Randstad, then went in-house to Amazon. During these spans, Michael filled positions ranging from software development, IT, solutions architecture, and other technical positions to contributor and leadership roles in accounting, finance, HR, and operations. He returned to legal recruiting during his time at Amazon and has continued in the field since then. Prior to launching Trense Group Northwest, Michael owned all of the US legal, enterprise risk, compliance, and regulatory recruiting at Affirm, then led the global legal recruiting team at Kraken Digital Asset Exchange.

Over his diverse career in recruiting and business development, Michael has built a broad understanding of how to consult with different client and candidate types, adapting carefully to the needs of executive recruiting vs. university recruiting, large companies vs. start-ups, niche searches vs. speed-oriented needs, etc. He brings a unique level of customization and understanding, along with the perspective of someone who has recruited and developed business both in-house and in consulting-firm environments. Michael has also cultivated a large network and strong knowledge base, successfully working across many legal practice areas and with dozens law firms and corporate legal departments in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Western US. He's an avid LinkedIn user with nearly 10,000 connections, including many past clients, candidates, alumni connections, and legal/HR influencers.

In his free time, Michael is an avid traveler, discovering offbeat places in the US or flying/cruising to other parts of the world. He and his spouse work out almost daily at the local gym, and Michael gardens, birdwatches, and stargazes regularly.

Contact Michael Foltz, Esq.

For an objective consultation, you may reach Michael via:

All inquiries are handled with the strictest confidence.

Trense Group Northwest
Black Diamond, Washington

Ashley Frost Bedell, Managing Director
Trense Group Florida

Ashley Frost Bedell, Esq. is the Managing Director of Trense Group Florida.

Ashley attended Vanderbilt University, majoring in Political Science and Sociology. After graduating from Florida State University College of Law with honors, Ashley clerked for Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles T. Wells then returned to the law school as the Assistant Director of the Office of Alumni Affairs before becoming the Senior Director of the Office of Career Planning and Placement.

Ashley relocated to Tampa to oversee all attorney recruitment and placement for Hill Ward & Henderson, P.A. where she was responsible for the extensive summer associate program as well as lateral and entry level attorney recruitment processes.

After raising her two boys, Ashley is thrilled to be a member of Trense Group and blend her legal background, recruiting experience and interpersonal skill set to create a positive outcome for both law firms and attorneys making employment decisions in today’s evolving legal market.

Outside of the office, Ashley is a fitness enthusiast and also enjoys reading and traveling. She and her husband, Frank, are embracing their new “empty nest” and have adopted a mini Bernedoodle named Obi-Wan Kenobi “Obi.”

Ashley attends St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and serves on the Vestry.

Contact Ashley Frost

For an objective consultation, you may reach Ashley via:

All inquiries are handled with the strictest confidence.

Trense Group Florida
Orlando, Florida

Wynn Brown, Managing Director
Trense Group Midwest

Wynn Brown is the Managing Director of Trense Group Midwest.

A Columbus, Ohio native, Wynn attended the University of Notre Dame, majoring in IT Management and Theology. Upon graduation, Wynn began his career with Young Life, a global nonprofit focused on building mentoring relationships with students. There, he quickly developed a reputation for trust-building, strategic execution, and results-driven leadership, becoming the Executive Director of the greater South Bend area within a few years.

In his work with Young Life, Wynn built trusted, long-term relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. He brings a consultative, people-first approach to his work, supported by strong experience with digital tools that are crucial to navigating today's job market.

Throughout his career, Wynn has been drawn to mission-oriented organizations where performance, integrity, and human impact intersect. He is thrilled to bring this skill set to the Trense Group, a well-established attorney placement firm with nearly three decades of experience matching highly credentialed attorneys with the most selective law firm and in-house employers.

Outside of work, Wynn remains actively connected to the Notre Dame and Young Life communities and is looking forward to the first Freeman-era National Championship. He enjoys cooking with his wife, Kate, reading epic fantasy novels, and playing with his one-year-old son, Seamus.

Contact Wynn Brown

For an objective consultation, you may reach Wynn via:

All inquiries are handled with the strictest confidence.

Trense Group Midwest
South Bend, Indiana